A deeply troubling piece of writing by John Lennon has resurfaced 64 years after it was penned—shedding new light on the Beatles frontman’s early years and reigniting debates about his controversial personal history. A handwritten poem, recently unearthed from an old notebook, contains explicitly racist language, including the N-word, used in a short narrative about a Black boy named Tom who struggles to find work.
The poem, believed to have been written in 1961 during the Beatles’ formative residency in Hamburg, Germany, features shockingly derogatory descriptions, referring to the boy as “black and dirty.” In one disturbing line, Lennon wrote: “No job for a n**r.”
The poem had been stored in a notebook Lennon left behind in the Hamburg apartment of Astrid Kirchherr, a close friend and photographer who was instrumental in shaping the band’s early image. Kirchherr passed the notebook to another source, and it eventually ended up in the hands of a collector. This collector is now offering the 6.5 by 8.5-inch sheet at Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles, where it’s expected to fetch up to £15,000 ($20,000) when it goes under the hammer on May 30.
Giles Moon, head of music memorabilia at Julien’s Auctions, described Lennon as a “complicated and complex artist,” noting, “His writings, music, and appearances revealed his struggles and journey to becoming a more understanding person.”
Though Lennon went on to become a global symbol for peace and anti-racism, his past reveals a darker, less publicized side. He admitted to physical abuse toward women, with his first wife, Cynthia, recalling how he once slapped her in a fit of jealousy. His son Julian also shared that Lennon emotionally distanced himself, once cruelly describing him as an accidental child “born out of a bottle of whiskey.”
Lennon’s violent behavior wasn’t limited to his family. He reportedly assaulted Cavern Club MC Bob Wooler after a joke about Lennon’s relationship with Beatles manager Brian Epstein. He was also filmed mocking disabled individuals—instances that contrast sharply with his later peace advocacy.
Despite his tragic murder in 1980 by fan Mark Chapman, Lennon remains a complex icon. The resurfacing of this poem forces fans and critics alike to reexamine the legend behind the man.
